Royal Mail unveils a hi-tech postbox featuring solar panels, a parcel hatch and a barcode scanner in its first major redesign in 175 years, aimed at tapping into the booming secondhand parcel market.
Category: News
The latest news affecting small and medium sized (SME) businesses in the UK
Eric Cantona accuses Sir Jim Ratcliffe of trying to ‘destroy’ Manchester United
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has accused Sir Jim Ratcliffe of “destroying” the club, criticising plans for a new stadium and claiming his offer to help was ignored.
Gerry Adams considers suing Meta over alleged use of his books to train AI
Gerry Adams is weighing legal action against Meta over claims his books were used without permission to train its AI. The former Sinn Féin leader joins growing backlash from authors.
Oil price sinks below $60 for first time since pandemic, before Trump climbdown sparks rebound
Oil prices fell below $60 for the first time since early 2021 amid trade war fears and surprise Opec+ output hikes, before rebounding after President Trump paused global tariffs.
Tesco warns that supermarket price war will eat into profits
Tesco has warned of lower profits in the year ahead as a price war grips the UK grocery sector. Britain’s largest supermarket expects profits of £2.7–£3bn, down from £3.1bn last year.
Tariff suspension ‘marks return to economic sense’, says Bank of France governor
Bank of France governor hails Trump’s tariff suspension as a return to economic sense but warns of ongoing unpredictability and protectionism. EU leaders urge unity ahead of trade talks.
Trump tariffs latest: 90-day pause announced, but China hit with 125% rate
President Trump announces a 90-day pause on tariffs above 10%, sparking a stock market surge. China excluded from the pause, facing a 125% tariff rate with immediate effect.
Sipay, Europe’s fastest-growing fintech, raises $78m Series B, hitting $875m valuation
Turkey’s leading fintech Sipay has raised $78 million in a Series B round led by Elephant VC, reaching a valuation of over $875 million as it eyes international growth following rapid domestic success.
Rachel Reeves tells MPs Bank chief says ‘markets functioning effectively’ despite tariffs crisis
Chancellor Rachel Reeves tells MPs that Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has confirmed UK markets are functioning effectively and the banking system remains resilient, despite global volatility caused by US tariffs.
Sir Philip Green loses legal case against UK over use of parliamentary privilege
Sir Philip Green has lost his privacy case at the European Court of Human Rights after Lord Hain named him in Parliament over misconduct claims, with judges upholding the UK’s use of parliamentary privilege.
Most UK businesses won’t change ED&I policies despite US shift, says IoD
A new Institute of Directors poll reveals 71% of UK businesses have no plans to change their ED&I policies despite President Trump’s rollback of DEI initiatives in the US.
ONS given four weeks to fix data quality issues amid warnings key decisions risk being ‘built on sand’
The UK statistics watchdog has ordered the ONS to urgently improve data quality after a series of failings, as MPs warn unreliable figures could lead to damaging economic decisions.
Volkswagen halts all US car imports as tariffs spark industry-wide turmoil
Volkswagen has paused all US car imports, including Audi models, in response to Trump’s 25% tariff on foreign vehicles — a move with major implications for the global auto market and US dealers.
Farmers hope for rain as dry spell stalls spring crops across the south
A prolonged dry spell is hampering crop growth across southern England, with farmers warning of failed germination and shifting weather patterns threatening spring harvests.
Lloyds accused of abandoning small firms as it cut lending after financial crash
Lloyds Bank faces accusations from whistleblowers and former clients of failing small businesses by mislabelling firms as distressed and cutting lending after the 2008 crash, despite bailout conditions.
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